JOEY BARTON has emerged as a shock new candidate for the role of Newcastle United captain.

The #5.5 million signing skippered the side in the friendly at Carlisle yesterday.

And despite a history of disciplinary problems in his past, Barton performed well enough for Magpies manager Sam Allardyce to refuse to rule out handing the 24-year-old the skipper’s armband on a permanent basis.

“He’s going to drag the players up to his standard,” said Allardyce, who was without other contenders Michael Owen, Shay Given and Steven Taylor, though Nobby Solano did play — and score.

“I just want to see how he handles the responsibility of being captain. As the season gets closer I will have to think about it, the captaincy may go to someone else but he leads by example.

“His game is terrific, he is phenomenal in the ground he covers and I think he’s done what we expect of him.”

Meanwhile, Newcastle have been linked with a move for Real Madrid star Julio Baptista.